After Breaking Up with the Crazy CEO - Chapter 5

Xing Bingwu witnessed the entire scene.

From President Yuan feigning a faint and collapsing into Xiang Yan’s arms, to deliberately putting his arm around her waist, being fed candy by her own hand, holding her hand, and finally asking for her contact information under the guise of helping.

When she went to the restroom earlier, she overheard some ear-polluting gossip.

“Did you hear? The one visiting President Yuan today is that Xiang Family’s illegitimate daughter who’s been rejected so many times.”

“I saw her. She’s somewhat attractive, but her eyes are as vacant as her brain. What kind of coincidence is it that she’s been stood up five or six times in a row?”

“Hey! I just walked past the conference room and saw President Yuan smiling! She’s like a completely different person now!”

To her surprise, when she returned to the conference room, she still had to endure more eye-rolling behavior.

Xing Bingwu stepped forward, resting her chin on Xiang Yan’s shoulder. “Yanyan, I’m hungry.”

Without waiting for Xiang Yan’s reaction, she snatched her phone and walked out. “You’ve already booked our dinner reservation, right?”

Xiang Yan blinked for a moment, bid farewell to President Yuan, and hurried after Xing Bingwu, spotting her figure by the elevator.

She walked over, and Xing Bingwu immediately thrust her phone at her. “Oh, you need my phone number to add me as a contact, right? Here you go. Go ahead.”

Xiang Yan took the phone, feeling inexplicably flustered. “President Xing, are you angry?”

“How could I be?” Xing Bingwu looked at her, a faint smile playing on her lips. “What right do I have to be angry with Miss Xiang? I’m not anyone to her.”

“I just realized, Miss Xiang, you really dislike me, don’t you? The moment I touch you, you flinch away like a startled rabbit. Yet President Yuan can hug you, hold you, pull you close, and demand your contact information, and you don’t react at all. I suppose you must like her.”

Xiang Yan: ???

Did President Yuan really do all those things to her? She hadn’t felt any of it at all!

Weren’t they just… she tripped, and he helped her up?

Ding! The elevator arrived.

Xing Bingwu stepped inside. “Come to think of it, I’ve been shamelessly pursuing you this whole time. Don’t worry, I won’t bother you anymore.”

The elevator doors began to close, but just before they shut, a slender, fair hand shot through the gap, forcing them open again.

Xiang Yan slipped into the elevator, her hands twisting together as she gripped her phone. She took a silent, deep breath and said, “President Xing, I’m sorry for keeping you waiting so long and for letting you witness that scene.”

If Xing Bingwu really liked her, that scene must have been painful to see.

“Also, I don’t dislike you, President Xing.”

Xing Bingwu chuckled softly. “You just talked to someone else for an hour, and now Miss Xiang has learned to lie.”

“Don’t worry, Miss Xiang. I won’t do anything to her, and I won’t do anything to you either.”

Ding. The elevator reached the first floor, and Xing Bingwu stepped out first.

“President Xing, I’m not lying. I really don’t dislike you,” Xiang Yan followed, hurrying to explain. “I didn’t even notice what you said earlier. President Yuan definitely didn’t mean anything by it. She just wanted my contact information in case I had any follow-up questions…”

“Miss Xiang,” Xing Bingwu stopped, “do you think someone only has ulterior motives if they try to drag you to bed? Is that it?”

They were at a corner of the building, still some distance from the parking lot, when Xing Bingwu pressed forward. “If you think she has no interest, then go talk to her. You don’t need to explain all this to me here.”

Xiang Yan grabbed her hand, stopping her. “President Xing, I’m not defending her…”

“Let go,” Xing Bingwu said coldly.

“President Xing, I really don’t dislike you. Back at the sports center, it was because… because…” Xiang Yan hesitated, finding it difficult to explain. She vaguely understood why, but she couldn’t explain her own reaction. The conclusion was undeniable: Xing Bingwu was, at least… somewhat special to her.

But it was definitely not dislike.

She had never disliked Xing Bingwu, not once.

“Let… go.” The two words were still icy, as if her patience had run out.

“It’s because I only react to your touch, President Xing!” Xiang Yan blurted out.

The world seemed to fall silent. All she could feel was the sweat gradually pooling in her palm, her once-cool wrist growing warm and hot under her grip.

Realizing what she had said, Xiang Yan immediately let go of Xing Bingwu’s hand and hurriedly explained, “President Xing, I didn’t mean anything by it. I just want to say that I really don’t dislike you. I can’t explain it clearly, but… you, I…”

A cool hand covered her mouth, and their eyes met. Xiang Yan blinked helplessly.

“It seems Yanyan is truly a little fool,” Xing Bingwu said, her eyes sparkling and a faint smile playing on her lips as if the previous incident had never happened. She spoke softly, “Yanyan, I want to kiss you. Will you let me?”

Xiang Yan instinctively shook her head in refusal.

“But what if I really want to kiss you right now?” Xing Bingwu pressed a kiss to the back of Xiang Yan’s hand. “Since Yanyan isn’t willing, let this be a substitute for now.”

With that, she released her.

Xiang Yan felt her mind still buzzing, frozen, and buffering for a long moment before she finally managed to ask, “President Xing, are you not angry anymore?”

“Silly Yanyan,” Xing Bingwu said, her gaze serious. “Do you still think my behavior just now was anger?”

Xiang Yan: “……”

“I don’t know.”

“Alright, if you don’t know, then you don’t know,” Xing Bingwu leaned closer, their noses nearly touching. “But I hope Yanyan will seriously consider why you only react to my touch.”

Dinner was over, and it was time for Xiang Yan to go home.

“Can’t we stay a little longer?” Xing Bingwu asked, crossing her arms and resting her chin on them as she stared intently at Xiang Yan. “It feels like we’ve only been together for a few seconds.”

Meeting those bright, captivating eyes, Xiang Yan’s heart skipped a beat. She lowered her gaze, stood up, and put on her coat. “I’m sorry, President Xing. I have a curfew. I can only stay this long today.”

Xing Bingwu was silent for a moment. “Alright then. I’ll drive you home.”

They had left the sports complex in Xing Bingwu’s car, leaving Xiang Yan’s car behind. So, Xing Bingwu drove her back to the complex.

Before Xiang Yan got out of the car, she reiterated her concern. “President Xing, please don’t let my family know about our time together today.”

Xing Bingwu tapped her chest. “Don’t worry. I’ll remember.”

Xiang Yan thanked her and unbuckled her seatbelt to get out. But the seatbelt snagged. Confused, she turned her head and found herself facing Xing Bingwu’s face, which was gradually leaning closer. For a moment, her heart stopped.

But Xing Bingwu didn’t overstep. Instead, she whispered in Xiang Yan’s ear, “Yanyan, remember to think carefully about this.”

Xiang Yan thought seriously about it, even searching online for “why people have special feelings about being touched by others.” From the myriad of answers, she concluded:

She liked Xing Bingwu and had sexual desire for her.

Xing Bingwu seemed to genuinely like her. But as Xiang Yan glanced at the family photo that conspicuously excluded her, she wondered if someone could truly gain another’s affection, even love, without any effort.

The next morning, Xiang Yan checked her phone and immediately saw a message from Xing Bingwu.

President Xing: Yanyan, have you thought about the question from last night?

Xiang Yan: No

Xing Bingwu: Looks like our little fool Yanyan needs more time to think properly.

It’s okay, I can wait.

With that, Xing Bingwu didn’t press the issue further but sent her a document instead.

President Xing: Take a look.

Xiang Yan opened it as instructed. It contained Xing Bingwu’s academic transcripts from kindergarten to university, along with various certificates. The final page was her EDBA degree certificate.

Xiang Yan: I’m done reading.

Why did President Xing send me this?

Xing Bingwu: I’m proactively letting Yanyan check my academic background.

Xiang Yan felt her ears instantly burn, her whole body quickly turning into a braised rabbit. When she had asked that question last night, one of the answers had been “You want to check her academic qualifications.” Unsure of the connection to her qualifications, she had specifically looked it up.

President Xing: Hmm? Does Yanyan understand what I mean?

Xiang Yan: I’m sorry, President Xing, this kind of thing…

She really didn’t know what to say.

President Xing: This kind of thing?

Wait, could it be that Xing Bingwu doesn’t actually know what this means? Her suspicion was quickly confirmed by the reply. Xing Bingwu sent a screenshot of a search page, the same search term she had used yesterday, and the same answer.

President Xing: My sweet Yanyan, you always surprise me.

Xiang Yan felt like she was about to burst into flames… She quickly tried to cover her tracks: “President Xing, I mean, what’s the meaning behind you asking me to check your academic qualifications?”

President Xing: So Yanyan wants to check my academic qualifications? What’s on your mind? Did you dream about it again last night?

Xing Bingwu completely ignored her explanation and had no intention of letting her off the hook.

Xiang Yan: President Xing, I really didn’t mean anything by it. I only just found out myself. May I ask why you wanted me to look up your academic qualifications?

If you have nothing else, I’ll get back to work now.

President Xing: Our Yanyan has really grown up. You’ve even learned to threaten me.

Xiang Yan: President Xing, I didn’t mean it that way…

She threw down her phone and pulled the covers over her head, completely burying herself.

Like a rabbit that had willingly walked into a fox’s den, she couldn’t escape.

Her phone buzzed incessantly. After taking several deep breaths, Xiang Yan finally picked it up again.

President Xing: I asked Yanyan to look up my qualifications so that you can come directly to me with any questions you have in the future.

Yanyan, do you understand my meaning now?

Xiang Yan: “……”

She should have realized. After yesterday’s incident, and after noticing that Xing Bingwu had attended the same university, major, and earned the same degree as her…

She tapped her forehead in frustration. Brain, please stay sharp from now on.

Reply: Okay, I understand. Thank you, President Xing.

President Xing: Oh, and there’s one more thing I didn’t mention.

Actually…

I dreamed about Yanyan looking up my qualifications.

Xiang Yan tossed the phone away as if it were a hot potato, and for the next two days, she pretended not to see it, or rather, pretended not to have received that last message. Fortunately, although Xing Bingwu continued to send her messages, she never brought up the matter again.

Xiang Yan hadn’t officially graduated yet and didn’t hold a formal position at the company. Xiang Lunsen only gave her temporary titles when needed.

When Xiang Lunsen told her to focus on preparing her graduation thesis, she did exactly that, spending nearly all her time in the library.

One day, Xiang Lunsen summoned her to his office and handed her a file.

Xiang Yan opened it. “Father, isn’t this the project Xingxing was working on?”

Xiang Lunsen nodded. “It was, but this project isn’t suitable for your sister. You, however, are perfect for it.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“This time, effort alone won’t be enough. This project is crucial to us. I only want to see it succeed.” Xiang Lunsen stepped out from behind his desk and placed his hand solemnly on her shoulder. “If it succeeds, I’ll formally acknowledge your lineage at this year’s birthday celebration.”

“Yanyan has always wanted this, hasn’t she?”

Hope flickered in Xiang Yan’s eyes. “I will succeed.”

The business partners had arranged to meet at the hotel restaurant. Xiang Yan arrived ten minutes early, only to find Chairman Huang already there.

“My apologies, Chairman Huang, for being late,” Xiang Yan said, setting her briefcase aside and shaking his hand.

“Not at all. I was simply eager to meet Eldest Miss Xiang, so I arrived early.”

As Chairman Huang reached out to place his other hand over hers, Xiang Yan immediately withdrew her hand.

Unfazed, Chairman Huang sat down and smiled amiably, getting straight to the point. “I’ve already discussed the terms of this partnership with your father. Since you’re here, I assume you’ve agreed to them?”

Xiang Yan remained standing, her brow furrowed. “Could you please clarify the terms, Chairman Huang?”

“Didn’t your father tell you? The condition for the partnership is that you spend one night with me. What do you say? It’s a very reasonable offer.”

As he spoke, he reached for her waist. Just as Xiang Yan was about to dodge, the man and his chair were suddenly kicked flying across the room.

Xiang Yan turned to see Xing Bingwu standing behind her, a lollipop in her mouth. She met Xiang Yan’s gaze briefly before looking down at the fallen man.

Chairman Huang let out a scream, then started cursing, but fell silent as he recognized the newcomer.

“Well, isn’t this Chairman Huang of Fengkai Construction?” Xing Bingwu stepped forward. “What evil wind blew you here to harass the woman I like, huh?”

Chairman Huang trembled and knelt, even kowtowing three times. “President Xing, I’m so sorry! It was all her father’s permission!”

“If I’d known she was the woman you liked, I wouldn’t have dared touch her, not even with a hundred more lives! Ah…”

“Shut up,” Xing Bingwu spat coldly, pressing down harder with her foot. The heel of her stiletto dug into his hand. Her voice slowed, “Chairman Huang, is that how you apologize to me?”

Chairman Huang understood immediately. Suppressing a scream, he kowtowed three times against the floor before Xiang Yan. “I—I’m sorry, Miss Xiang. Please—please forgive me.”

Xiang Yan was lost in her own world, her father…

“Yanyan?”

The call was followed by a stifled scream that quickly turned into a shuddering gasp.

Xiang Yan snapped back to attention. “President Xing?”

“Get me the contract documents you need signed.”

Xiang Yan glanced at the kneeling man, hesitated for a moment, then retrieved the partnership documents and handed them to Xing Bingwu.

Xing Bingwu threw the files onto the floor, mercifully releasing his hand. “Sign everything that needs signing.”

Chairman Huang, his face streaming with tears and snot, nodded and tried to scramble to his feet to sign.

Xing Bingwu: “Did I tell you to get up?”

He immediately prostrated himself on the floor and signed all the documents.

Xing Bingwu bent down to retrieve the files and handed them to Xiang Yan. “Yanyan, check for any errors.”

Xiang Yan nodded and carefully reviewed them. “None.”

“President Xing,” Chairman Huang said, looking up with a fawning expression, “may I be dismissed now?”

“You may,” Xing Bingwu replied, looking down at him from her superior position. “But, Chairman Huang, did anything happen in this private room today?”

“No, nothing at all! I signed all these documents voluntarily!” Chairman Huang answered immediately.

“If anyone else finds out about what happened today, you know the consequences, don’t you, Chairman Huang?”

“I understand! Absolutely no one else will find out!”

“Get out.”

The door to the private room closed firmly.

Xing Bingwu turned around and saw Xiang Yan sitting there, looking lost and dazed. She walked over and sat directly on Xiang Yan’s lap, wrapping her arms around her neck.

Support After Breaking Up with the Crazy CEO